FAQs

What is the Overhead Continuous Descent Approach (OCDA)?

The Overhead Continuous Descent Approach (OCDA) is an "overhead break," which is a landing procedure used by military pilots to expedite landings in potentially hostile areas.  This maneuver has fighter jets circle over Portland residential neighborhoods twice in route to the runway(s) at PDX. Also referred to as the OHCDA, CDOA, and CDA.  Fighter jets executing the OCDA arrive in groups of 2 to 4 jets at speeds faster than civilian aircraft.  When ORANG practices this maneuver at PDX, fighter jets fly at low altitudes over civilian residential communities, thus creating at least two acts of noise pollution on the ground. The high speeds produce louder noise than conventional lower speed approaches.  The OCDA establishes new flight paths and resultant noise levels over areas that historically had none.  See Appendix “A” OCDA Flight Paths.  

Where does the Overhead Continuous Descent Approach occur?

See Appendix “A” OCDA Flight Paths.

What are the avoidable problems caused by the Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG) use of the OCDA at PDX?

For starters, the use of the OCDA at PDX establishes flight paths over civilian residential areas that previously had none. Imagine building a bridge or highway through a neighborhood, and doing so without permission, mitigation, or compensation of affected residents.

The fighter jets, mostly F-15s and F-16s, drastically affect the quality of life for thousands of Portlanders. They shake houses, rattle bones, ruin the peace and sanctuary of backyards, and wake up the sleeping. These jets regularly deviate from their accepted flight paths by up to 1/2 mile, fly at low altitudes, increase noise pollution to unacceptable levels, and physically endanger those underneath the flight paths.

In addition to being out of compliance with FAA* and NEPA* protocols, the OCDA causes PTSD inducing Noise Pollution. The World Health Organization agrees, and these negative impacts can be physical, emotional, and/or psychological. Furthermore, the OCDA’s use disproportionately impacts disenfranchised neighborhoods of North and Northeast Portland. This is a public health issue because Noise Pollution and its consequences are real. It is also social equity issue, a private property value issue, and most significantly, it’s a significant quality of life issue.

Why doesn’t ORANG practice the OCDA elsewhere?

ORANG can and did practice the OCDA near sparsely populated areas. In fact, ORANG can do what it did for several decades before: prepare to be mission-ready by practicing the OCDA at bases that weren’t located inside the city limits of a major city. To suggest that the ORANG can't be ready if it doesn't use the OCDA at PDX is to suggest that ORANG was not combat ready for the duration of the Cold War.

But why does ORANG insist on using the OCDA at PDX?

ORANG's stated reasons for performing the OCDA landing maneuver at Portland International Airport amount to the convenience of saving time and gas money. The Guard is sacrificing our peace and quality of life in the name of defending those very same things. It doesn't make sense. SaveOurSkiesPDX says these reasons are not good enough.

Who is SOSPDX?

SOSPDX is a coalition of Portlanders, neighborhood associations, and activists concerned about the massive increase of OCDAs over residential areas and fighter jets flying over residential areas in general. What started as a simple change.org petition at www.NoJetsPortland.com, SOS PDX is committed to watchdogging ORANG and the Port of Portland and ensuring that they respect environmental law and the quality of life of their neighbors!